Sunday, November 24

Types of News: Brief

News briefs are shorter stories about current events. It’s the who-what-when-and-where. “Just the facts, ma’am.” Please see our writers guidelines.

U.S. Lacks Funds to Handle Migrants, Asylum Cases, Trump Says
25Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
Migration, Immigration, Borders, Types of News: Brief, United States

U.S. Lacks Funds to Handle Migrants, Asylum Cases, Trump Says

June 25, 2018-The United States not only has "the worst immigration laws in the history of the world," it also lacks the funds and resources to deal with migrants crossing its borders, President Donald Trump said late last week as he met with his Cabinet. The statements came just before the U.S. Congress set aside immigration legislation and as the federal government came under scrutiny for separating migrant families. Blame the Other Party Congress appears to be stalemated despite the need to clarity U.S. immigration laws and despite the fact that tens of thousands of migrants are crossing into the United States from Mexico and Central America each year. According to the White House, 200,000 unaccompanied minors migrated to the United States since 2014. "So [Democrats] want us to ...
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As Gov’t Begins Reuniting Families, Congress Sets Immigration Reforms Aside
23Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Migration, Immigration, Borders, Types of News: Brief, United States

As Gov’t Begins Reuniting Families, Congress Sets Immigration Reforms Aside

June 23, 2018-As the U.S. government began reuniting migrant children with their parents, who are being held for illegally crossing the U.S. border, the prospects for immigration reform in Congress appeared dead. The massive migration from Central America to the United States and the U.S. government's inability to handle it have created a crisis with both human and economic costs. The issues involved relate to bureaucratic incompetence, human smuggling, transnational crime, and a broken political system. Many Children And Parents Remain Apart Under pressure mounting pressure from an outrages public, the U.S. government started reuniting parents held under prosecution with their children. According to CBS News, the government returned 500 of the 2,300 children held in detention centers wi...
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U.S. to Target China’s Strategic Industries in New 25 Percent Tariffs
15Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

U.S. to Target China’s Strategic Industries in New 25 Percent Tariffs

June 15, 2018-U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans today to impose 25 percent tariffs on up to $50 billion of Chinese imports related to "industrial significant technologies." The tariffs will target emerging high-technologies outlined in China's "Made in China 2025," a strategic plan China published in 2015. That plan proposes to remake the Chinese economy from a low-cost manufacturing hub to a higher-value producer in 10 key sectors, including green technologies, robotics, aerospace, transportation, information technology, and pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Many analysts, such as those at the Council on Foreign Relations, view China's strategic vision as an industrial threat. Trump echoed that sentiment in his announcement. "The United States can no longer toler...
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North Korea State TV Produces Documentary of Kim’s Singapore Trip
14Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

North Korea State TV Produces Documentary of Kim’s Singapore Trip

June 14, 2018 - A state-television station for North Korea produced a documentary of its leader's trip to Singapore, featuring Kim Jong-un as a patriot who has arrived on the world stage. The 42-minute video on KCTV resembles a travelogue that pays tribute to Kim's ascent in the global conscientiousness. The video clips provide a glimpse into the way the DPRK views the summit. It also sheds light on the fact that Kim and his rogue nation have been isolated from seeing and participating in the rest of the world. Although Kim attended school in Switzerland as a child, he has only traveled outside of North Korea twice -- to China last March and South Korea last April -- since becoming the country's "Supreme Leader" in 2011. The Singapore trip, therefore, was a big deal for him and his coun...
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U.S. Economy ‘Strong,’ Fed Says; Others Warn of ‘Darkening’ Global Economic Outlook
14Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Global Economics, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Economy ‘Strong,’ Fed Says; Others Warn of ‘Darkening’ Global Economic Outlook

June 14, 2018-The U.S. economy is "rising at a solid rate," the Federal Reserve said yesterday as it raised its short-term interest rate from 1.75 to 2 percent and projected two more increases this year. A strong labor market, household spending, and business investment are strengthening the economy while the inflation rate hovered around 2 percent, the Federal Open Market Committee statement said. Asked about U.S. trade tensions between the United States and its partners, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said he hears rising concerns from business leaders who are delaying investment decisions. He added, however, that at this point, it is simply "a risk" rather than a current reality. "Right now, we don't see that in the numbers at all," Powell said. "The economy is very str...
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Trump, Kim Meet in Singapore, Agree to Establish U.S.-North Korean Relations
12Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

Trump, Kim Meet in Singapore, Agree to Establish U.S.-North Korean Relations

June 12--U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-Un sign a statement of intentions to establish relations and to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula after meeting in Singapore. According to the non-binding statement, posted on the White House website, the United States and North Korea (DPRK) agree to the following: To establish new U.S.–DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity. To join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. To work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, as outlined in the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration. To recover POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified. It was...
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G7 Summit Ends in Insults And Injury to Global Trade, Western Alliance
10Jun By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Global Trade, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

G7 Summit Ends in Insults And Injury to Global Trade, Western Alliance

June 10, 2018--Just hours after appearing to sign a G7 Joint Communique with the heads of state of six leading Western democracies on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump reversed course by posting on Twitter that he would not endorse the statement. It was a significant setback for relations among the Western democracies, which have struggled to find a common voice since President Trump threatened to raise trade tariffs on its top trading partners. The Communiqué The 28-point statement includes language on "free, fair and mutually beneficial trade and investment," "a rules-based international trading system," and opposition to protectionism. It also declares joint opposition to tax evasion and shared support for education and equal opportunity to take part in the global econo...
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Putin Calls for Unity Following Landslide Reelection Win
19Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

Putin Calls for Unity Following Landslide Reelection Win

March 19-A day after easily winning another six-year term in office, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for cohesion in domestic politics and constructive dialogue in international relations. It was a landslide victory for Putin, as expected. He won 75 percent of the vote, securing his place in office through 2024. While Putin is popular in Russia, and considered to be a strong leader, the election itself was not competitive. Furthermore, observers are complaining about large-scale violations, including ballot-box stuffing and voting that was compelled by employers at state-owned companies. The main opposition leader, Aleksei Navalny, was not able to run due to a financial-crimes conviction he says was made up by the government. The other candidates, considered by most observ...
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Merkel Wins 4th Term as German Chancellor
14Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Democracy, Europe, EU, Eurozone, Types of News: Brief

Merkel Wins 4th Term as German Chancellor

March 14-After months of uncertainty over the leadership of Europe's largest economy, the German Bundestag voted 364-315 in favor of giving Angela Merkel a fourth term as chancellor. A coalition of her own Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party elected her today after a standoff among six parties won support in the general election in September. Since Merkel first won the position in 2005, she has wielded a great deal of influence over European Union policy. She advocated for open intra-European borders and migration from abroad, against criticism from far-right nationalists in Germany and Europe. During Merkel's last major policy speech in January, she called on Europe to take its own destiny within its hands in regards to the digital economy, defense and fore...
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Trump Fires Top U.S. Diplomat Rex Tillerson
13Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Diplomacy, Types of News: Brief, United States

Trump Fires Top U.S. Diplomat Rex Tillerson

March 13-With a simple tweet, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he is replacing his top diplomat with a former congressman and the current head of the Central Intelligence Agency. CIA Director Mike Pompeo will replace Rex Tillerson as the Secretary of State, Trump posted on Twitter this morning. Meanwhile, he is appointing an intelligence officer named Gina Haspel, known for running a "black site" facility in Thailand for the U.S. government, as the new CIA director. Both Pompeo and Haspel would need to clear the Senate confirmation process to take office. Pompeo is a former congressman from Kansas who served on the House intelligence and energy committees. A tea party affiliate, Pompeo is considered a hard-line Republican and Trump loyalist. Prior to serving in Congress,...
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